it was hardly slander. Andy never said anything nasty ffs

Simon Goddard, for the 2nd edition of Mozipedia.

Or better again, for the history-revising eagerly-awaited autobiography.

A refreshing, if not ultimately mystery-solving, revelation.

I am surprised some people are calling Morrissey "petty" for defending himself. Every time someone wants to make a point of what a nightmare Morrissey is to work with, this story is brought up. And it's not mentioned in some frivolous way--it's meant to denigrate him.

I'm a little surprised he's waited so long to tell his version. As I said, this story has been repeated many times. Andy has spoken about it before--I think Johnny even commented on it.

On an somewhat related note--wasn't Rourke propagating another Morrissey myth, namely that Moz doesn't sign Smiths stuff anymore? I'm pretty sure I've seen a video of a very happy American fan having a Smith's record signed. I know I've seen a picture of Morrissey signing under an elaborate Meat Is Murder tattoo. Maybe someone who has tried to get something signed can clarify?

I'm not surprised by this i always thought this tale smelt of bullshit.Glad Morrissey put us straight, hope Andy's pleased to have it sorted out.

Thanks for the clarification.

I guess he's pissed off with liar, who can blame him!

Why even,at this juncture,try to defend this crap? Is this a big deal in England? Or anywhere?
I am trying to understand why "Sir Moz" would address this ,what am i missing? Please be nice,i was only asking...

Not saying I don't believe Moz but does seem suspicious when he waits over over 20 years to try to put this straight. Also, Andy may not be necessary untruthful here...like Moz says, someone may have put a note on the vehicle pretending to be Moz. All I know is as I get older I tend not to care either way who said what as long as the music is good.

Johnny Marr has also corraborated this version of events, not to mention Rourke obviously.

We know Morrissey is devious, and why exactly it's taken this long to dispel a rumour is very suspicious.

Morrissey would not have posted some note on a windshield to dismiss someone from the band. He would have posted it on TTY.

-RWRW

No, I'm not thick, I like how you are reaching for so much from a pair of comments on a Morrissey website, but I don't find it very interesting.

In the Trouble at Mill article, for example, we have a Smiths associate agreeing it happened:

http://www.johnharris.me.uk/arch/interview/smiths/smiths_pt3.htm

On the group's return to England, Rourke was fired, apparently using crushing callous methods. "Morrissey left a little postcard on the windscreen of my car, like a parking ticket. It said 'Andy - you have left The Smiths. Goodbye and good luck, Morrissey.' ["Very Morrissey," says one Smiths associate when reminded of this incident. "'You are the weakest Smith - goodbye.'"]
"After I'd stopped crying," Rourke continues, "I phoned Johnny and said 'what''s going on?' He was like, 'er...you'd better come round.'

Still, despite the finality of Morrissey's note, Marr envisaged Rourke's dismissal as a temporary measure; an exercise in tough love that would force Rourke to clean up. "It was (i)totally(i) a temporary thing," he says now. "Andy was one of us. "There was never any 'goodbye forever'; it was kind of 'get your shit together'. But our resolve on that lasted about a week. It just wasn't right."

--
His agreement with Morrissey's method is implicit, and he certainly doesn't deny it happened.

I'll shut the fuck up now, as my point is well and truly proven. I'll not need to reply again, as I have been shown to be 100% correct. Not so thick now, am I :)

Apocryphal or semi-apocryphal stories always arise surrounding powerful, private people like Morrissey -- they're parables, intended to demonstrate some larger trait without the sloppiness of reality. They may be factually false, but they are very often essentially true (though that doesn't make the propagator of a factually false story any more sympathetic).

The one in which a sickly Morrissey asks Jo Slee to save a drowning wasp is another case in point, though I have the sense that Slee is a more reliable narrator:

http://www.morrissey-solo.com/articles/uncut0898b.htm

The fact he is even bringing this up at this point in time leads one to feel how desperatley he would like to rewrite the truth.

The point about something like this is that nobody will ever really know the truth. Probably not even the people who were there. Memories get distorted over time, words are misquoted, before you know it (should you have the misfortune to be famous) that person you said hello to in the street this morning becomes your long term lover in the tabloid press tomorrow.
An extreme example maybe, but to my mind when you read 'facts' from those in the public eye, it's better to work around them than take them at face value. Thus Morrissey never says Rourke wasn't dismissed with a letter, he simply says not a note or postcard hastily scribbled by him. Just read what Morrissey doesn't say in his rebuttal and you might come close to what happened.
As for why he's doing this now, well, sometimes you just get sick of the same untruth being repeated. Because it's been said from Rourke's mouth this time, rather than in a book or via another journo, then someting in Moz obviously just snapped.
Truth is a very subjective thing, and when it's split between four people over 20 years ago, it becomes something almost impossible to recover.

I thought that the suppossed event added to Morrissey's legend.

As always, I just consider the source.

I remember reading that story a long time ago in a magazine and even then, as young as I was and just starting to develop this loyal love I have for Morrissey, I thought it had to be a fabricated tale. I mean, come on...

Life is just too damn short. Andy, Morrissey, Johnny, & Mike should just bury the hatchet, and preferably not in each other's backs. I wish they'd just lighten up. Lighten up & Brighten up! It's apparent they all used to care for oneanother and the marvelous music they made together. I hope they all learn to forgive and come together to make another album. I hope they do this for their fans and somehow, someway, for themselves. Peace!

If the postcard on the windshield isn't true, I'm not sure what Rourke's agenda is, other than keeping a very interesting bit of Smiths lore alive, but my guess is that the true is somewhere between what Rourke said and what Morrissey said.

But let's review history: Morrissey has never had the guts to sack anyone... he's always had others in his circle do it for him: Mike Joyce with several musicians and producers when the Smiths were attempting to go on without Marr. And most obviously, Marr--Marr always had to do the firing when Morrissey was done with people--it's one of the reasons why Marr ultimately left.

If Rourke was fired, he was most likely told via Marr, his childhood friend. If there was a note on the windshield, it was probably a letter of sympathy from Morrissey.

But Morrissey doing something as bold as firing someone? Not it this lifetime.

last year telling him not to cancel any more gigs.

Eye Weekly is a Canadian website..guess it's another reason to keep on Boycotting Canada eh Moz! Well i'm off to club some seals with this weeks edition of Eye weekly, see ya in a few hours.

andy was strung out on heroine at the time..maybe he just imagined the whole thing???

Ok, so here's something that I just thought of....It's wild, so brace yourselves...

Who cares?

Who cares if Rourke got a postcard on a windsheild, a mirror, pinned to a hen house, a shit house or even in the friggin' mail!!!

Dear Morrissey,
Why don't you phone Andy and tell him that you didn't leave the postcard? You let the myth of the 'postcard incident' survive for so long, why didn't you say something before? Surely enough time has gone by to now be able to speak with your old friends. Everything does not have to end in bitterness. Besides: Andy was a great bass player and added a lot to The Smiths, and you should have some respect for him. Not everyone was placed on the Earth to serve you. I'm not having a dig at your expense. I just think you should reach out and contact him. It would be worth it for shock value alone :-)
I presume that Morrisey's answer to this suggestion would be: "Why should I? I don't need to explain myself to anyone". Which may be true, but surely Moz is man enough to know that only he can heal a wound like that inflicted on Andy when he was fired.
ACTON

It's sad but true: never trust a junkie! Everyone knows that. But when oh when or we gonna get that long-awaited autobiography from Morrissey to put all these broken records straight? Short statements on TTY in dribs and drabs every time he feels the need to clarify or deny something are tantalising but so ultimately unsatisfaying.

We should have a poll on other Smith's rumours and half-truths. Here's three to start us off:

1. Morrissey once demanded that he get off the plane when it was taxi-ing on the runway for take off due to his fear of flying (another European Tour cancelled)

2. Backing Vocals on "Work is a four letter word" are Rourke not Joyce

3. Morrissey refused to put a vocal on "The Draize Train" because he thought it was utter crap - Marr then wrote his own lyrics and asked Craig Gannon to sing them.

Andy played bass for Moz for at least a year after the split. Therefor it's highly improbable said postcard was ever written.

Duh.

Dear Friends,

The real issue is that heroin abuse is not tolerable. The deadliness that surrounds heroin abuse speaks for itself. Andy has yet to apologise or speak candidly on the subject, in my opinion.

I am trying to be objective. Being a Morrissey fan, one can hardly say that I am objective, however.

I think Andy had a lot of nerve to sue Morrissey and Marr. Think about it.

As far as the law suit, Morrissey probably helped to save Andy from a lot of heartache. I doubt there was ever any deception regarding monies. Andy was blessed to receive 10% or whatever amount. Ten percent, to me, sounds adequate (not being familiar with the insides of the music industry).

I think Morrissey handled Andy's heroin problem in a dignified fashion. Did Andy show up to rehearsal/recordings fu*ked up or geeked out on horse? Heroin will make you very unreliable and nasty.

What are your thoughts?

Andy, you owe Smiths fans an apology, don't you?

Truly,
Ken S.

Andy written it, it was known as truth

but it was only some weeks,when he returned , why
does Morrissey focus on the written postcard, as he and Johnny himself agreed to get him back, cause he was on a methadone treatment, enough to
get back, and made a tour with Graig Gannon

I won't attack Morrissey, but he seems not to have courage to tell people in the face'your fired' , more people heard via his manager or another bandmember

There are people that certainly known, roadies, technicians

ask Grant Showbizz, he knows too much, but somehow keeps it 'save'.

Again why focus on the postcard, while Andy was
back in the Smiths after a few weeks

As someone said,stop this childish mudthrowing,
and whose right or wrong.
1 thing is for sure, the drummer will never be
forgiven by M&M, even if Johnny in speaking terms with Andy, and knows Andy% Mike are good friends

He is over 50 and he is realizing it. He is just trying to protect his legacy. Sinatra did the same thing as he got older, even switching political parties. Moz and Frank are both my heroes. This album is Moz's mid life crisis. He's going back to his punk roots. His voice is so beautiful and he can write some fantastic loves songs. My dearest love is one of the greatest songs Ive heard him sing since "there is a light". I hope he settles down, but I guess if he wasn't stirring the pot, he wouldn't be Morrissey.

awesome

am i the only one that wants these two in a boxing ring
come on lads, lets sort it out once and for all =)
i'd back moz all the way, rourke was sound but hes a cunt thesedays

fuck off Morrissey. How can you be so fucking churlish? It was just a straight-forward interview, I don't think he was having a dig or anything. Christ check your bank balance and get over it man...

he's still my hero even though i never want to meet him

I generally look forward to Morrissey's TTY statements, however with a new release and tour coming up, the idea that Morrissey chooses to address some often-told half-assed story regarding Rourke's "dismissal" kind of sticks in my craw.

On one hand, it's cathartic to him to do a little myth-shattering. Not sure if now is the time, but so be it.

Because he uses "dismissal" in quotes, he may be suggesting the more likely scenario that himself and Marr sat Rourke down and used "dismissal" as a threat in order for him to rid himself off drugs. That would make more sense because what Rourke failed to mention in his interview was that he was eventually back in the band and drug-free.

As far as this mythical postcard, if it ever did exist, all I want to know is; was it French one? Because that would have gotten my attention.

First I though it was sad Morrissey actually reading that interview and defending himself. But then I realized his "statement" was Morrissey being witty and he really does realize nobody cares what Andy Rourke says or his crappy stories.

these Americanisms? I really can't see Moz saying "hood" of a car when all English people would call it a bonnet. Several of these TTY statements have used American spelling too. I really can't see Morrissey using such words and speeling being a man who lives for the written word.

apologies if this has already been said but i think the most interesting thing about this is that i presume morrissey only saw that rourke interview because it was posted here on so-low. a site he claims to not look at anymore. i can't really see that morrissey has a google alert for whenever he is featured in articles - no scratch that i can believe it - but more likely is that he is still perusing these boards.

I mean, who gives a toss about all of this? It happened such a long time ago it doesn't really matter. Morrissey must have too much time on his hands if he is reading obscure Andy Rourke interviews on the web and then goes through the trouble to get his little stooge Julia to post something up on her naff Morrissey worship site? Right....?? Or am I missing something here...

Well spotted Whalley Range! No one brought up in England would ever use the word 'hood' - but would use the word 'bonnet'. This statement is obviously not by Morrissey.

Morrissey is such a nerd. This interview appeared when? two days ago? And Morrissey comments on it. It's not insane to infer that he reads this site daily, so it's better not to waste an opportunity to talk to Moz directly.

Dear Morrissey, you should be actively searching a new songwriter that's any good instead of picking on Andy.

Well, some people don't know what to do to catch the media attention and see if they can manage to get something from it. It seems like Andy still wants more!

"Doesn't anyone have the wit to work this one out ?"

Alright, let's take up the challenge.

Marr is the one who constantly has to drop the ax on people.

Moz and Marr decide Andy has to go because of his addiction. Moz tells Marr to make it happen.

Not wanting to fire/face his longtime friend, Marr puts the note on Andy's car in the "morrissey-scrawl."

After Andy stop crying, he calls Marr and Marr commiserates with him, but the conversation is opened up and Marr tells him if he cleans up Morrissey will probably take him back.

All pure conjecture... but the last comment by Morrissey in his statement leads to it, no?

I hate Andy Rourke he tells lies. Not only that there is something very false about him. You can't believe I word Andy Rourke says. I would take Morrissey's word over his any day!! Andy Rourke tells lies, is fake, shallow, unintelligent and rude.

This is a sign! Morrissey: "I never wanted you to leave!" Hehe. Ah, I'm retarded.

The show must go on, as they say,

All Tommorow's Parties !

Hazard.

Get sacked in the '90's in a rather disrespectful Moz way?

My memory is a bit fuzzy but it seems to me he was canned by Morrissey in a way that wasn't professional.

Can anyone expand on that?

Can you please give us a clue.
I do not have the wit to work this one out.
yeah i said it!

There is a new album out and a few tour dates. Something like this has generated a nice bit of publicity.

I think it's sad that two people have a story and so many people vehemently support one or the other.

There are no facts. So many people here love Morrissey that they just believe it because he says it's true and don't think he's capable of lying.

Then there seems to be another faction who just thinks he's a liar and will always protect his image, truth be damned.

It's one thing to have an opinion of who you think is more credible but the incredible arse-licking these people are getting is pretty pathetic.

Get some actual facts before getting such strong opinions.

of the fact that Morrissey is just a guy who was in a band with some other guys, and that these things happen all the time.

The fact that this little incident has taken on a mythical quality is astonishing, and another testament to the legendary power of The Smiths, and the intensity of Morrissey's personality in particular.

I don't blame Morrissey for defending his honor against what he perceives as a particularly pernicious slight. He seems to be permanently on the defensive, which is both sad and, in his case, strangely endearing.

It's difficult to judge him on matters like this; no one here knows what it is like to put yourself out there as a public target, and succeed beyond your wildest dreams.

He's asked for (and taken) as many hits as Jack Broughton.